Krohn Racing team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn and longtime teammate Nic Jonsson went to La Sarthe on May 30-31 for the official ACO Le Mans Test Days in preparation for the 83rd Annual 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13-14, 2015.

The No. 40 Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 Judd-powered entry spent the occasionally rainy test sessions as a worthwhile preparation for the upcoming 2015 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. One of 21 LMP2 cars and 64 total, Krohn and Jonsson spent the time getting a set-up on the car, as well as testing various weather conditions and tires as part of the preparation for the upcoming historical race.

Joao Barbosa, who will join Krohn and Jonsson in the cockpit for the upcoming 24-hour race, competing on Saturday, May 30, to a third-place finish in the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race on the street of Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Barbosa is currently tied for first place in the 2015 IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Prototype Driver Championship standings, where he drives the No. 5 Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP (P Class).

TRACY W. KROHN, Krohn Racing Team Owner/Driver:
“We did not get very many laps in dry conditions so it was mostly in the wet, but it was alternately raining and drying at different corners. I did not do 2 laps in a row where conditions were the same! Lots of cars spinning off track with a couple of red flags and several local yellows. It was good for us to get this experience at Le Mans with this car as we gained a lot of data regarding tires. Actually, I think this test will help us a great deal assuming any kind of rain/variable conditions as so often happens at Le Mans. We also gained a good bit of knowledge regarding the traction control and aero settings. I am glad we did this test and can’t wait for the race!!”

NIC JONSSON, Krohn Racing Driver:
“I feel it was a very worthwhile test at Le Mans. Whenever you can get laps in under various conditions at Le Mans, it makes you feel better prepared for whatever might get thrown at you during the race. The test allowed us to acquire a lot of data, test the various tires and just know what the Ligier-Judd feels like on La Sarthe circuit. Tracy did a solid job for the first time in a Prototype in difficult weather conditions at Le Mans. Tracy and I both felt comfortable and better prepared for the race by the end of the weekend. I’m really excited to come back to Le Mans for Tracy’s and my tenth consecutive race here.”
 
HAYDEN BURVILL, Krohn Racing Engineer:
“The test day for the 83rd running of the Le Mans 24 Hour was held in mixed weather conditions. We had to modify our test objectives slightly to make sure we used the track time and test opportunities, regardless of weather. We were able to work through the basics of aerodynamic efficiencies that is so important at Le Mans. The wet track does not really affect top speeds too much and the No. 40 car was reaching almost 300 kilometers per hour on the Mulsanne in damp track conditions. We made critical adjustments to ride height and rake.
 
Tracy and Nic were able to re-familiarize themselves with the track and start to get a feel for how the Ligier JSP2 will work in dry conditions. We were able to run all four tires types we expect to use in the race, but the running on slicks was very limited and still slightly inconclusive. There were no mistakes on track and the crew stayed focused through long eight hours test period.
 
Although we would like to have a better feel on our dry weather performance right now, the same is true for everyone else in the pit lane too. When we start running for the first test session on Wednesday of the race meeting, I am sure we are in a good starting position.”
 
GARY HOLLAND, Krohn Racing Team Manager:
“It was obviously a very difficult day, especially for the drivers, given the variable weather through the day. The car ran without fault and the drivers ran through their program of familiarizing themselves with the Lemans circuit in an LMP2 car after so many years in a GT car here. We are looking forward to the race week now and welcoming Joao Barbosa and getting down to the business end of the Lemans 24 hours.”

 The Krohn Racing Team, based in Houston, Texas is currently using the Onroak Automotive shop in Le Mans, France, in preparation for the 83rd annual 24 Heuers du Mans.